Improved apparatus for paying out telegraphic cables



ilNrrnD STATES FFICE@ LOUIS BRAUER, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO IIIMSELF, L. G. BRANDEBURY, AND JOSt B. STEWART, OF SAME PLACE.

llVlPROVED APPARATUS FOR PAYING OUT TELEGRAPHIC CABLES. i

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 19,275, dated February 2, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs BRAUER, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Apparatus to be Applied to Steamers for Paying ont Telegraph- Cable; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciljcation, in which- Figure l is a. plan or top view of a steamer with my apparatus applied to it. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section ofthe same.

Similar letters of reference in each of the -several gures indicate corresponding parts.

This invention is designed to overcome the difficulty which has heretofore attended the laying of telegraph-cable across the ocean, said difculty being the breaking of the cable by undue strain resulting from the incapability of the paying-out apparatus to pay out the cable as rapidly or in the same ratio as the speed ot' the steamer may be increased by a change in the pressure of steam or action of the current or Wind.

The nature of my invention consists in the arrangement ot' the spring-pulley frame with the paying-out apparatus and the valves ot' both paying-out engine and the propelling-engine, or with either of the same separately, whereby a yielding support is provided to support and Weigh the cable, and also as soon as the speed ofthe steamer increases so as to endanger the cable the valves ofthe paying-out engine are operated so as to increase the supply ot' steam to the paying-out engine, or the valves of the propellingengine with payingout engine operated so as to so decrease the supply ot' steam to said engine, and thus the paying out of the cable increased sut'ticiently lo compensate for theincreased speed acquired by the steamer, or the speed ofthe steamer reduced suiiicientl y to avoid strain and breakage ofthe cable.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construct-ion and operation.

A represents a steamer ot' ordinary' or any other approved construction; B, the propellin g-engine.

C C represent the straight grooved payingout cylinders, arranged'on the second deck near the stern of the steamer, and geared together by wheels D D.

E E represent the engine for driving these cylinders'. This engine has two cylinders and two pistons, one of which latter is connected by ordinary eccentrics to each end ot' one ot' the paying-out cylinders, so that the motion of said cylinders shall be changed suddenly from fast to slow, and vice versa, as occasion may require, without any loss of time, as would be the case il' a single cylinder and balancewheel were used. The steam-cylinders E E are furnished with ordinary steamchests and slide-valves, and steam is supplied to said chests by mea-ns of a connecting pipe, F, which connects` with the supply-pipe Gr ot' the boiler, being furnished at the connection with a cut-off valve or cock, H, similar to the cut-ovalve or cock I of the propelling-engine. These cocks are arranged just the reverse ot' each other, so that one gradually cuts ot''while the other increases the supply.

J represents the pulley-frame for supporting and guiding the cable as it passes from the grooved cylinders. This trame is pivoted to the upper edge ot' the steamer-s stern, so as to be'capable of turning on its axis from a perpendicular to a horizontal or other position as the strain comes upon the cable from increase in thc speed of the steamer, and thus relieve the cable and et't'ect the supply of the steam to the paying-out engine and the cnt-oli" of the same from the propelling-engine, as occasion may require. It is also prevented from descending suddenly and rendered self-adjusting by means oi' springs a. a, coiled round its axis and secured to the saine by one ot' its ends and to it by the other. The legs b b ot' said frame are also prevented from rising suddenly, and yet made capable of rising gradually, and then of readjusting themselves with the frame by means of an auxiliary spring, c. On the axis of this frame a guide-pulley, d, is ixed, and on the cross-head of the saine three tension guidcpulleys, cfg, are arranged so as to be capable ot' sliding laterally, and thus accommodate themselves to the motion ot' the ivessel and avoid strain on the cable when the steamer pitches and rocks in a storm.

O represents an index-dial arranged along side the frame. This dial, in connection With one ofthe standards of the frame, will indicate the Weight or strain'upon the cable.

K represents a-connecting-rod leading from vthe automatic regulating-frame to the cut-oft' valve or cock H ofthe paying-out engine, and from said valve or cock H to an elbow-lever, h, and then down to the cut-oi valve or cock I of the propelling-engine.

L represents the telegraph cable. It is passed through a guide, t', and then carried several times round the grooved paying-out cylinders, being crossed each time it is carried round, and made to lie snugly in thev grooves of said cylinder, as shown in Figs. l and 2, and after being thus arranged it is carried under the pulley el of the regulating-frame, and up by the pulley e over the pulleyf. and down by thepulley g, and from thence let down into the ocean, as illustrated in the drawings.

With this invention it may be evident that all possibility of the cable being' strained gradually or suddenly is avoided by employing the pivoted turning spring-frame, as said frame serves to receive any sudden shock, and thus relieve the cable, erin case of change of speed of the vessel taking place, so as to endanger the cable, it yields under said strain, and' thereby draws upon the connecting-rod K and lets on more steam to the paying-out engine, and partially cuts oft' the supply to tliepropellingengine. The effect isjust the reverse, or such as to insure a perfect operation,\vhen the paying out of the cable becomes more rapid than is required to meet the demands of' the speed of the steamer, as all the parts are made selfadjusting by means of springs and Weight-s.

Vliat l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement ofthe spring pulley-frame with the paying-out apparatus and the valves of both the paying-out engine and propellingengine, or either of the saine separately, substantially as and for the purposes-set forth.

v LOUIS BRAUER.

Witnesses:

SAML. PHILLIPS, J oHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD. 

